DIFFERENTIAL EFFECTIVENESS OF THINK-PAIR-SHARE PROGRAMMING STRATEGIES, CONVENTIONAL METHOD AND LEARNING STYLES ON THE PROGRAMMING ACHIEVEMENTS OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN IJEBU EDUCATION DIVISION, OGUN STATE

This work examined the effects of the think-pair-share programming strategy on students’ achievement in programming. It also determined the moderating effect of learning styles on students’ achievement in programming. The study adopted a pretest-posttest-control group quasi-experimental research design. One hundred and twenty-two (122) students offering computer studies in senior secondary 2 from the two purposively selected public senior secondary schools in Ijebu Education Division of Ogun State constituted the sample. Computer Programming Achievement Test (CPAT, r = 0.760) and Learning Style Inventory (LSI, r= 0.83) were used for data collection.  Data obtained were analysed through inferential statistics of analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) using IBM SPSS Statistics 23. The finding indicated that the think-pair-share programming strategy significantly improved students’ achievement in the programming aspect of computer studies.  It was also found that learning style is not a strong factor in the learning of programming. The findings suggest that teachers should adopt the think-pair-share programming strategy in the teaching and learning of computer programming in senior secondary schools. It is therefore recommended that teacher education programme should include the strategy as one of the methods in the computer science methods courses to enable would-be teachers to master its nitty-gritty, since it worked in the senior secondary school. Also, the government and school authority should organize series of training through workshops and conferences to enable the teachers to acquire the skills to use the strategy.   &nbsp

Synthetic biology routes to bio-artificial intelligence

The design of synthetic gene networks (SGNs) has advanced to the extent that novel genetic circuits are now being tested for their ability to recapitulate archetypal learning behaviours first defined in the fields of machine and animal learning. Here, we discuss the biological implementation of a perceptron algorithm for linear classification of input data. An expansion of this biological design that encompasses cellular 'teachers' and 'students' is also examined. We also discuss implementation of Pavlovian associative learning using SGNs and present an example of such a scheme and in silico simulation of its performance. In addition to designed SGNs, we also consider the option to establish conditions in which a population of SGNs can evolve diversity in order to better contend with complex input data. Finally, we compare recent ethical concerns in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) and the future challenges raised by bio-artificial intelligence (BI)

Plant parasitic nematodes in ICRISAT Chickpea Fields

In a survey of 5 fields of chickpeas in Andhra Pradesh, India, Helicotylenchus indicus, Helicotylenchus retusus, Heterodera cajani, Heterodera sp., Hoplolaimus seinhorsti, Pratylenchus sp., Rotylenchulus reniformis and Tylenchorhynchus sp. populations were highest in fields in which sorghum and various other crops had been grown during the past 5 year

Gateway vectors for efficient artificial gene assembly in vitro and expression in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Protein interactions in Xenopus germ plasm RNP particles

Hermes is an RNA-binding protein that we have previously reported to be found in the ribonucleoprotein (RNP) particles of Xenopus germ plasm, where it is associated with various RNAs, including that encoding the germ line determinant Nanos1. To further define the composition of these RNPs, we performed a screen for Hermes-binding partners using the yeast two-hybrid system. We have identified and validated four proteins that interact with Hermes in germ plasm: two isoforms of Xvelo1 (a homologue of zebrafish Bucky ball) and Rbm24b and Rbm42b, both RNA-binding proteins containing the RRM motif. GFP-Xvelo fusion proteins and their endogenous counterparts, identified with antisera, were found to localize with Hermes in the germ plasm particles of large oocytes and eggs. Only the larger Xvelo isoform was naturally found in the Balbiani body of previtellogenic oocytes. Bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) experiments confirmed that Hermes and the Xvelo variants interact in germ plasm, as do Rbm24b and 42b. Depletion of the shorter Xvelo variant with antisense oligonucleotides caused a decrease in the size of germ plasm aggregates and loosening of associated mitochondria from these structures. This suggests that the short Xvelo variant, or less likely its RNA, has a role in organizing and maintaining the integrity of germ plasm in Xenopus oocytes. While GFP fusion proteins for Rbm24b and 42b did not localize into germ plasm as specifically as Hermes or Xvelo, BiFC analysis indicated that both interact with Hermes in germ plasm RNPs. They are very stable in the face of RNA depletion, but additive effects of combinations of antisense oligos suggest they may have a role in germ plasm structure and may influence the ability of Hermes protein to effectively enter RNP particles

Intrapleural hypotonic cisplatin treatment for malignant pleural effusion in 80 patients with non-small-cell lung cancer: a multi-institutional phase II trial

To assess the effect and toxicity of hypotonic cisplatin treatment (HPT) consisting of the intrapleural administration of cisplatin in distilled water for malignant pleural effusion in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Non-small-cell lung cancer patients with cytologically proven and previously untreated malignant pleural effusion were enrolled into this study. Firstly, the lung was fully re-expanded by a tube thoracostomy, and then 25 mg cisplatin in 500 ml of distilled water was instilled through a chest tube and then the tube was clamped. After 1 h, the tube was declamped and allowed to drain. The chest tube was removed when the pleural effusion volume decreased to 200 ml or less per day. A complete response (CR) was considered to occur when the pleural effusion disappeared. A partial response (PR) was determined to occur when the volume of pleural effusion remained under ¼ of hemithorax. The response at 4 weeks was evaluated by an extramural review. Out of 84 patients enrolled from February 1998 to August 2002, 80 patients were eligible and analysed in the present study. The toxicity of HPT was acceptable. Neither a haematological toxicity of any grade nor grade 4 nonhaematological toxicity was observed. Grade 3 nonhaematological toxicities were observed, including nausea (4%), vomiting (3%), pyothorax (1%) and dyspnoea (1%). The median time of drainage from HTP was 4 days. Twenty-seven (34%) and 39 (49%) patients achieved CR and PR, respectively, for an overall response rate of 83% (95% confidence interval, 74–91%). The median duration of the response was 206 days. The median survival time of all patients was 239 days. Hypotonic cisplatin treatment for malignant pleural effusion of NSCLC is therefore considered to be feasible and effective. A phase III study of HPT is thus warranted